Research has shown that one of the most important and cost-effective ways to maintain a robust immunity is long-term vitamin D repletion. Vitamin D sufficiency significantly lowers the risk of complications from viral and bacterial respiratory infections. COVID patients with adequate Vitamin D levels are 4x less likely to die than those with low levels. In addition to protecting against infection, Vitamin D supplementation has been shown to help with migraines, psoriasis, and obesity. Patients with obesity, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome have chronic low-grade inflammation and supplementing with Vitamin D has been shown to reduce inflammation and control blood sugar. Patients who are obese or elderly need to supplement with higher amounts of Vitamin D.

Ideally your Vitamin D level should be 50 ng/mL or higher. In a healthy non-obese adult, daily intake of around 5000 IU or 50000 IU once a week is usually adequate. In patients with a BMI of 30 - 39, 10,000 IU a day or 100,000 IU a week may be necessary. And for patients with a BMI of 40 or greater, 20,000 IU a day or 150,000 IU a week maybe needed.

In patients who are acutely ill, a loading bolus of 100,000 - 300,00 IU is recommended, depending on the serum Vitamin D level.

For more detailed information on Vitamin D, please refer to this article published in Nutrients July 2022.